Page 12 - 17 October 2025

PAGE 12 · THE REPORTER 17 OCTOBER 2025

around protecting fynbos sonar and allows them to
and renosterveld habitats, funnel sounds into their ears.
restoring ecological balance, I have not been able to get a
and mitigating threats like decent photograph of these
wind farms, pesticides, and wonderful birds and most of
fragmentation.” our sightings have been of
There were a number of them flying or “quartering”.
other birds on the list, some A few years ago we found
It is the time of the year when iconic (Greater Honey Crowned Eagle visiting the
they choose the BirdLife SA Guide, Martial Eagle and Ruitjiesvlakte area. On one
Bird of the year. Crowned Eagle), some of our follow-up visits, we
In celebration of its new extremely common (Hadada saw a Black Harrier
logo, which was unveiled on Ibis) and others scarce harassing the eagle. The
6 September 2025, BirdLife (Southern Banded Snake Harrier most probably had a
South Africa invited the Eagle). nest in the grassland nearby.
public to be part of a historic T h e B l a c k H a r r i e r (See Kev’s photographs
first: helping to choose the (Witkruisvleivalk) was the below).
Bird of the Year for 2026. winner. It is known as one of I found this interesting fact
We were excited to see that our most elegant raptors. on the SANBi website:
the Bearded Vulture made A striking, mostly dark “Black Harriers undertake
the voting list. harrier with large white seasonal migrations into
panels in the underwings, a either northern or eastern
Let me quote from the areas of their natural range. Black-Harrier (Witkuisvleivalk) - with thanks to e-bird
BirdLife SA Media Release white rump, and bands on Fo r e x a m p l e , s o m e
about some of the different the tail. The juvenile is brown populations are known to
s p e c i e s t h a t w e r e with white flashes in the migrate 1000 km eastwards
nominated; underwings and has a across the Great Karoo and
heavily-streaked chest. We
“ N o t a b l e s p e c i e s i n used to have a breeding pair into the Lesotho highlands
contention this year include on the “vlei” just outside of just as the rains begin, and
the Botha's Lark, widely town, but unfortunately when Ice Rats (Otomys
regarded as the endemic people hunting with their sloggeti) breed in March-
(found only within South dogs on the commonage April. Other individuals stay
Africa) bird most threatened (which is prohibited in the in their breeding area and
with extinction in South Senqu By-laws), as well as move into areas comprising
Africa).” children breaking the eggs in a mix of agriculture and
“Black Harrier (Circus the nest, put a stop to that. natural vegetation, such as
Cape Columbine and the
maurus) One still can see these
elegant birds in our area, if Overberg and some migrate
IUCN Red List Regional you are lucky. between South Africa and
Status: Endangered Namibia. Breeding-pairs
The Black Harrier is a nest semi-colonially and
The Black Harrier, an elegant specialized hunter, using its
raptor with deep black acute hearing, aided by a during breeding season
plumage that contrasts with distinctive facial ruff, to B l a c k H a r r i e r s c a n
its white flight feathers, detect prey such as small congregate in large numbers
hunts by gliding low over mammals and birds in open, at suitable breeding grounds It would have been great to have the Bearded Vulture (Baardaasvoël) as the Bird of the
fynbos and renosterveld, the low-lying vegetation. The along the coast and Year. This is a photograph I took in the district in August 2021.This is another bird that I
harrier’s favoured habitat harrier is a monogamous montane areas, including in have not been able to get good photographs of.
across parts of the Western breeder, building ground the West Coast National Park
and Eastern Cape, extending nests in loose colonies, but in South Africa.” significant conservation
into Lesotho and the Free its breeding success is Keep your eyes open for efforts towards the protec-
State. Black Harriers in our area. tion of their renosterveld
heavily influenced by habitat throughout the
Despite this designation, the seasonal rainfall, which BirdLife South Africa have Overberg region of the
Black Harrier’s survival dictates prey abundance. “Species Guardians” and Western Cape.
hinges on the preservation of Low-Level Flight: Black “Species Champions” The
its specialised breeding Harriers fly low and slowly Guardians undertake the Reporting sightings: Your
grounds and migration over fields, a hunting research and conservation data helps conservation
corridors. With fewer than method called "quartering," projects as well as monitor scientists better understand
1,000 mature individuals left allowing them to efficiently trends in the species’ status. the movement patterns of
and habitat loss accele- search for food. As they fly D r R o b S i m m o n s the endangered Black
rating, the species serves as low they keep a sharp eye for (FitzPatrick Institute, Harrier.
a vital, conspicuous rodents, birds, or even the University of Cape Town) is For more information you
indicator of ecosystem odd reptile. A special facial o n e o f t h e S p e c i e s c a n e m a i l R o b .
health in our unique ruff around their eyes helps Guardians for the Black Simmons@uct.ac.za or Photograph: Overberg Renosterveld Trust
shrublands. Conserving this them hone in on the tiniest Harrier and has many years info@overbergrenosterveld.
magnificent raptor also rustle in the grass. The facial of experience researching org.za
highlights broader efforts ruff is almost like a built-in and supervising projects on
the endemic Black Harrier. To report Black Harrier
sightings, use the BirdLasser
Since 2022, Dr Odette app or call the dedicated
Curtis-Scott of the Overberg number +27 63 507 5829,
Renosterveld Conservation providing the date, time,
Trust joined as the second location (GPS coordinates if
Black Harrier Species possible), and the bird's
Guardian. Dr Curtis-Scott behavior.
did her Masters on the Black
BirdLife South Africa’s new logo Harrier and is contributing Till next time. Female Black Harrier at the nest (www.natural-research.org)

On 14 August 2022 Kevin managed capture this sequence: “On the farm Percivale (Langkloof) Barkly East a Crowned Eagle (Kroonarend) being mobbed by a Black Harrier
(Witkruisvleivalk).” This was the only time we have seen a Crowned Eagle in the area.